John Rankin House (Ripley, Ohio) facts for kids
|
John Rankin House
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 6152 Rankin Hill Rd., Ripley, Ohio |
|---|---|
| Area | 20 acres (8.1 ha) |
| Built | 1828 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000485 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | November 10, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | February 18, 1997 |
The John Rankin House is a special historic home located at 6152 Rankin Hill Road in Ripley, Ohio. Built in 1828, it was the home of John Rankin, a Presbyterian minister who was a strong abolitionist. This means he worked hard to end slavery. The house was also an important stop on the Underground Railroad, a secret network that helped enslaved people find freedom.
A famous writer named Harriet Beecher Stowe visited Rankin. Her visit helped inspire parts of her famous book, Uncle Tom's Cabin, which showed many people how terrible slavery was. The State of Ohio bought the house in 1938. Today, the Ohio History Connection manages it, and you can visit it on tours. In 1997, it was recognized as a National Historic Landmark because of its important history.
The Rankin House: A Look Inside
The John Rankin House sits on a hill, giving it a great view of Ripley town and the Ohio River. The property covers about 20 acres (about 8 hectares). You can reach the house by a drive that starts near Rankin Hill Road.
The house itself is a simple, one-and-a-half-story building made of brick. It has a roof that slopes down on the sides. The front of the house has three sections, with the main door in the middle. Windows are on either side of the door. A small porch with a shallow roof covers the entrance. Inside, the house has a central hallway. There are four rooms on the first floor and two small bedrooms upstairs in the attic. Many original parts of the house are still there, like the wide wooden floors and the carved fireplaces.
John Rankin's Fight for Freedom
John Rankin, a Presbyterian minister, built this house in 1828. He raised his large family here. But it was also a very important place for enslaved people seeking freedom. These brave individuals often crossed the Ohio River from Kentucky, which was a state where slavery was legal. They were often guided by people called "conductors" on the Underground Railroad.
It's believed that John Rankin helped more than 2,000 enslaved people gain their freedom. This was a very dangerous thing to do. Slave catchers often watched the house, and some slave owners even offered money to anyone who would capture Rankin. After the American Civil War ended slavery, the Rankin family sold the house. The state bought it in 1938 to preserve its important history.
More to Explore
- John P. Parker House: Learn about another brave conductor on the Underground Railroad in Ripley.
- List of Underground Railroad sites: Discover other places that were part of this secret network.
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Ohio: See more important historic sites in Ohio.
